FROM THIS EPISODE

LA's Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been working on big decisions today: for the cultural center of South Los Angeles, Wilshire Boulevard on the Westside and cuts in services. We get a progress report. Also, the LA Lakers have already left the Phil Jackson era behind, and the Mars rover that "revolutionized" human understanding of the Red Planet has made its last transmission. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, crime and the cost of punishment.

Mike Brown hasn’t signed his contract yet, but he’s already said, “I am excited to help carve my own path with this team going forward.” He hasn’t spoken to Kobe Bryant, and Kobe’s declined to comment so far.

LA’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been working on big decisions today: for the cultural center of South Los Angeles, Wilshire Boulevard on the West Side and cuts in services. They have been wrangling over a
Crenshaw subway stop at Leimert Park, a bus-only lane on Wilshire
Boulevard out to the west side, and a budget cutting 72,000 hours of
service.

It was a “big deal” for NASA when two so-called Rovers landed safely on Mars. “Spirit” was supposed to be good for just three months and a few hundred yards, but it lasted for 6 years and traveled more than five miles—showing scientists that Mars might once have harbored what we on Earth refer to as “life.” But it hasn’t been heard from in more than a year, and yesterday scientists at the Jet Propulsion Lab sent their final command.

A majority of the US Supreme Court has ruled that California must reduce its prison population to relieve overcrowding that violates the Constitution. Dissenters claim that will mean 33,000 criminals loose on the street--while state officials are looking for ways not to release any prisoners at all. With the US incarcerating more people than any other nation, will other states face similar orders? Even many conservatives say we can’t afford more prisons. We’ll hear how Texas and other states found cheaper alternatives for punishing criminals while reducing crime and maintaining standards of common decency.